Why Is Breakfast So Important?

Is it really true that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"?
– Michael

Breakfast is indeed a very important meal. A good breakfast fuels you up and gets you ready for the day.

In general, kids and teens who eat breakfast have more energy, do better in school, and eat healthier throughout the day. Without breakfast, people can get irritable, restless, and tired. So make time for breakfast — for you and your kids!

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2010

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Related Resources

Allrecipes.com This site offers more than 40,000 free recipes, plus lots of cooking tips and information.

American Dietetic Association The American Dietetic Association offers nutrition news, tips, resources for consumers and dietitians, and a find-a-nutritionist search tool.

Food Network TV's Food Network goes online with searchable menus and recipes, an encyclopedia of cooking terms, and ideas from celebrity chefs.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children - better known as the WIC Program - serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS) NHPS works with families and community partners to help kids grow up healthy, with a focus on childhood obesity prevention and emotional and behavioral health during early childhood.

ChooseMyPlate.gov ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information on how to follow the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It includes resources and tools to help families lead healthier lives.

How Can Families Be Healthier? Involving the whole family is the best way to promote healthful eating and activities for your kids.

Healthy Food Shopping What you put in the grocery cart can affect your child's health and attitude toward nutritious food.

Cooking With Kids Inviting kids into the kitchen to help you cook can be a great way to create quality together time and help your child learn and refine some basic skills.

Breakfast Basics Even if you eat a healthy morning meal every day, it can be tough to get kids fueled up. Here's how to make breakfast more appealing.